Top 4 Types of Headaches That Signal a Dangerous Problem

Ordinary headaches are part of the normal human experience. However, a headache that is severe, persistent or associated with other symptoms such as vomiting and confusion is a warning signal to a dangerous problem.

“Worst Headache of Your Life”

Pain in the head or upper neck is one of common locations of pain in the body and is attributed to many causes. The “worst headache of your life” is a term found in medical textbooks to describe the pain associated with a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. The headache occurs while the person is lying still and is associated with a stiff neck, difficulty tolerating light in a room, vomiting and confusion. Usually the first headache is a warning sign. The initial subarachnoid hemorrhage is not fatal. If immediate medical attention is sought, the aneurysm can be detected and surgically repaired. If the symptom is ignored, the next bleed can be catastrophic.

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A headache that is worse in the morning, improves after the person vomits, gradually improves as the day progresses and worsens with coughing, exercise, bending or kneeling is a common symptom of a brain tumor. This type of headache does not respond to usual headache remedies. However, Casilda Balmaceda, M.D., an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, states that only about eight percent of all patients with a brain tumor have headache as the first and only symptom. She points out that most brain tumors manifest with other symptoms such as altered mental status and seizures. Metastatic brain tumors are more frequently associated with the symptom of a headache than primary brain tumors. Other symptoms of a brain tumor often mimic other conditions. It is important to seek medical evaluation if you experience this type of headache or other symptoms that are unusual for you.

Severe Headache of Sudden Onset

A headache that occurs suddenly, is severe and appears to have no known cause is a reason for concern.

hello. my headache has been 5 days now. i took 4 painkillers and drank a lots of tea and water. my back of head, temples, and neck hurts, and eyes sore, neck stiffens, lose my balance and suddenly feel dizzy. also , i have born with anemia. i feel like i have a fever and numb.

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Hi. I received a different kind of headache . When i was site it will be ok .and when i was stand a different kind of headache come in only right side of my head for second and second it will be gone . I received this pain for 2 days.

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My boyfriend has been having sever attacks of pain in his head. It can start for no reason but coughing can bring it on too. The worst attack he had was when we had sex....He said he felt like he was going to die. When that attack happened the light was also affecting his eyes. Is this something serious? What can be done? He has called the emergency services 3 times and all they say is to take pain relief. He is not hom self at all, he appetite is suppressed, lathargic and keeps going hot and cold.

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My co-worker gets migraine headaches frequently, at least once a month. Yesterday she had one so bad, she had to go home before she said she wouldn't be able to drive home. She said she has migraine medicine from her doctor. I just wonder about this, she is 31.
I wonder if this is dangerous, she has seen a dcotor about this a while ago, but she can't function when she gets these.

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I has a co worker that had the same issue. The doctor had her try all sorts of things including eating different. She went on an all natural fruit vegetable juice cleansing and then incorporated them into a healthy diet and it eliminated that issue.

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I have been having this horrible constant headaches worse than I have ever felt in my life . Persistant Nausea, vomitting, blurred vision, swelling of glands on back of my head and I haven't been able to sleep.

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My daughter is 15 started having daily head pain that never goes away. Three months into it she started cycle vomiting and had to be put on a feeding tube. We sought out a sports doctor as she is an athlete and he said she had suffered a concussion with her atlas out of align. The neurologist acts like I'm a mental patient when I bring it up. She got into hyper baric chamber and it helped her to stop throwing up. We changed her mode of treatment head pain increased and vomiting started back. She is now on a picc line and being feed nutrients that way. Some new meds they put her on made her now have the shakes. Does anyone out there have similar issues. Does this sound like post concussive syndrome to anyone?

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